Kedah sticks to decision to shut down centre accused of sending kids to beg

Kedah sticks to decision to shut down centre accused of sending kids to beg

State government says it is not perturbed by an orphanage's threat to take legal action.

Kedah executive councillor in charge of religious affairs Ismail Salleh (centre) with state Islamic Department director Abd Rahman Ismail (left) and state Welfare Department director Azmi Abd Karim (right) at a press conference in Alor Setar yesterday. (Facebook pic)
SUNGAI PETANI:
The Kedah government says it will not budge from its decision to close down an orphanage accused of exploiting children to solicit funds from the public, after caretakers threatened to take legal action against the authorities.

State exco on religion Ismail Salleh said authorities took action within the law as the orphanage was illegal.

“These people are being investigated for child exploitation under the Child Act 2001 by the police. In fact, an investigation paper was opened on the case last week,” he told FMT.

He said the owners of Pusat Jagaan Kanak-Kanak Cahaya Amal Bestari will be charged in court on Thursday.

The centre, which operates from a row of shophouses, was ordered to shut down, with 11 children transferred to the Welfare Department and the rest returned to their parents.

Authorities said the centre had violated Section 16A of the Care Centres Act 1993.

The centre has denied that the children were exploited to ask for donations from the public.

“The donations are to sustain themselves and their fellow housemates,” its spokesman Azfar Kamaruddin told FMT.

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